Cigar



y 23, 1961 s. L. RICH 2,985,175

CIGAR Filed July 6, 1959 INVENTOR. S/DNEY L. R/CH United States Patent2,985,175 1C Patented May 23, 1961 j This invention pertains to cigars,and particularly to cigars comprising ash reinforcing means, and alsopertains to methods of making ash-reinforcing binders for cigars. 1

A object of the invention is to provide a cigar wherein normal smokingcharacteristics and normal appearance are retained but which forms, uponbeing smoked, an ash which adheres firmly to the body of the cigar.

Another object is to provide an improved method of making anash-reinforcing binder sheet for cigars.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive cigar construction, wherein the normal appearance of thecigar and of the cigar ash are retained, which has the smokingcharacteristics and taste of a normal cigar, but'which possesses thequality of burning, when being smoked, to form a strong, reinforced ash.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of acigar according to the invention;

' Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the cigar partially unwrappedto expose an internal construction according to the preferred embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a fragment of binder sheet employed in thepreferred embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cigar partially unwrapped to exposeinternal construction'in accord with. a modification of the invention;and

v Fig. 5 is aplan view of a fragment of binder sheet employed in themodified embodiment of Fig. 4.

The cigar 1 of Fig. l is of normal appearance in every respect, and, asshown, comprises a bunch 2 which is to be seen in the figure at thetrimmed lighting end 3. The bunch is made up of folded or partiallyshredded tobacco leaf in accord with the usual practice. The cigar isformed with spirally wrapped outer wrapper 4 of attractive tobacco leafextending from the trimmed end 3 to and around the closed or punchedtapered mouth or bit end 5.

Interposed between the bunch and wrapper is a binder 6, as best shown inFig. 2 wherein the wrapper 4 has been broken and partially rolled backat 7 to expose the binder. Binder 6'comprises a rectangular sheet 8having a breadth, as measured between side edges 9 and 10, as seen inFig. 3, approximately equal to or slightly greater than thecircumference of the bunch, and having a length substantially equal tothe length of the cigar. When rolled around the bunch, edges 9 and 10extend longi-. tudinally" of the cigar and, preferably, overlap for, forexample, a fraction of an inch. The wrapper is spirally wrapped aroundthe binder.-

I, The binder sheet 8 according to the invention is formed ofcomminuated tobacco particles. Such sheets may be formed by grinding drytobacco leaf, wetting the particles with water and pressing and dryingto form the sheet. It is preferred that a binder material should beincorporated with the comminuted tobacco particles, and appropriatebinder materials include, among others, cellulose derivatives such asethers of cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharides, gelatine, andagar-agar. If no binder material is embodied in the sheet, it ispreferred that small tobacco fibers be incorporated of suflicient lengthto add strength to the sheet. Rather than forming the sheet from a waterslurry of the tobacco particles, the liquid phase of the slurry may bedilute ethyl alcohol, for example.

A satisfactory binder sheet may be formed specifically by depositing alayer of damp or wet tobacco particles of between about 10 and 40 meshsize on a smooth surface, covering this layer with a polysaccharidematerial and then applying a further layer of tobacco particles. Thedeposited materials are pressed and heated or otherwise permitted to dryto about 10 to 20 percent moisture content. 7

In the preparation of the sheet the dry or wet ground or milledcomminuted tobacco may be mixed with water to a creamy or syrupyconsistency, and binder materials, if used, together with desiredflavoring or moistening agents, mixed in the slurry or colloidalsuspension thus formed, the mixture spread on a smooth surface andpressed and dried, with heat if desired.

In order for the binder sheet to be flexible and not subject to crackingand crumbling when it is being wrapped about the bunch, it, like otherparts of the cigar, is moist when applied to the bunch and thereafter.Specifically, all parts of the cigar for proper making, as well as forproper smoking, should contain at least about 10 percent and preferablyabout fifteen to twenty percent of moisture. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that the binder sheet to be satisfactory for use in cigarsmust be moistena-ble and not waterproof. Homogenized or reconstitutedcomminuted tobacco sheet material of the general types referred toabove, and which has approximately the thickness of a normal or averagetobacco leaf" and which is wetta-ble with water, and which has astrength at least approximately equal to the strength of a tobacco leafis suitable for use in this invention.

, In accord with the preferred embodiment, the manufactured tobaccosheet 8 is imprinted with stripes or bands 11, extending longitudinallyof the sheet parallel to the side edges 9 and 10, comprising alkalimetal silicate. The bands 11 are separated each from the next by abouttwice the width of one band, whereby about one-third of the sheetsurface is covered by silicate and two-thirds of the surface areuntreated. Each band is between about one-sixteenth of an inch andone-quarter of an inch in breadth, with a separation between adjacentbands of between about one-eighth and one-half of an inch. If more. thanabout one half of the sheet surface is coated with the silicate, thecigar may be too slowly burnable during smoking and may burn unevenlyaround the burning end; if less than about one sixth of the sheetsurface is coated, insufficient strength will have been added to theash.

The alkali metal silicate is preferably applied to the manufacturedsheet by means of transfer rolls from a bath of sodium silicate in theform of dilute Water glass. Commercial syrupy liquid water glass of 40Baum diluted by the addition of water in proportions by volume between100 parts water glass to 60 or parts of water and parts water glass toparts of water is appropriate, while approximately equal parts of 40Baum water glass and of water are, under most conditions, the preferredproportion. Thus, suitable water glass for use in this invention may bebetween about 19- and 28 Baum.

A metal pick-up roll rotating in the silicate bath supplies the materialto a rubber transfer roll which, in turn, contacts and transfers theliquid to a rubber impression cylinder or printing roller which consistsof printing sur faces one-sixteenth to one-fourth of an inch in width,with spaces between each printing surface equal to ap: proximately twicethe width of an individual printing surface. The total width of theprinting roller or rollers should be at least as great as the bindersheet width. When the printing surfaces contact the sheet, appropriatelyeffective stripe coating on the sheet results. Preferably the sheet iscoated in this manner on both surfaces simultaneously with printingsurfaces engaging each sheet surface and thus forming each band on bothsheet surfaces, i.e. with each printing surface engaging one sheetsurface aligned exactly opposite an identicalprinting surface of" theother roller in contact with the oppo: site sheet surface.

Printing of the binder sheet, which may be of about 0.003 to about 0.006of an inch in thickness, in the manner described, while the sheetcontains about 8 to 20 percent moisture, causes the dilute water glassto penetrate into the sheet material through its whole thickness,apparently substantially uniformly. When coated in this manner on onlyone face, some penetration through the whole thickness is apparent,although'the distribution may not be constant throughout the thicknessof the sheet. If the sheet is too dry, it may crumble under the printingroll; if too moist, the sheet loses its tensile strength and may tear.

The coating or printing is effective on sheets, whether homogeneous orlaminated, formed of tobacco particles offrom dust size to about 20 or15 mesh size. For binder sheets prepared from smaller particles, it ispreferred to print somewhat broader strips of the silicate than forsheets formed of larger particles, within the ranges indicatedhereinabove, although the invention herein described is operativethroughout the ranges specified for strip breadth and spacing withbinder sheets formed of particles between dust size and about mesh 15.More dilute water glass material, and slightly heavier applicationsthereof, may be found appropriate for binder sheets having a thicknessas great as, for example, 0.005' of an inch, whereas binder sheet of0.003 of: an inch is' appropriately printed with 40 'Baum water glassdiluted with slightly less than an equal quantity of water. Thepenetration of the dilute water glass can be increased if desired, or iffound desirable with any one or another binder sheet, or with one or theother face which may be found less penetrable, by the addition of asmall quantity of a wetting agent. From three to six drops of vinegaradded to each print of dilute water glass has been found satisfactoryfor this purpose, for example.

Following the coating or printing step, the moisture content of thesheet is suitably made uniform and adjusted, such as by drying to setthe silicate and remoistening to obtain the approximately 10-20 percentoverall moisture content desired for workability of the sheet in extendgenerally along or longitudinally of the cigar, as.

opposed to circling around the cigar. The cigar is completed by a spiralwrapped wrapper 15, preferably spiralling in the direction opposite tothe spiral direction ofthe binder.

Sheet 12 is in all respects, except as specifically noted above andexcept that its breadth between edges'16 and 17 may be somewhat less,identical to sheet 8, the bands 13 being of the same material as bandsv11 and similarly applied and of similar dimensions and spacing. Thebunch 14 and wrapper 15 may be identical with bunch 2 and wrapper 4 ofthe first embodiment, and the appearance of the finished cigar 18 willbe as shown in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that the description hereinrelating to Figs. 1 through 3, accordingly, is generally applicable tothe construction in accord with Figs. 4, and, 5, except as particularlypointed out above.

The cigar is lighted for smoking, and is smoked, in the usual manner,but it is found that the ash, though entirely normal in appearance, issubstantially increased in strength by the longitudinal bands ofsilicate. The impregnated and coated portions of the binder smolder at arate not appreciably affected by the impregnation. While the ash of theimpregnated portions of the binder tends to be black, rather than gray,the gray ash of the wrapper covers the ash of the binder hiding it fromview, and, unless the ash is, very. carefully broken apart and carefullyexamined, one would not recognize any unusual, appearance thereof.

The reinforcement or strengthening of the ash in accord with theinvention is such as to greatly reduce the in-' advertent knocking offof the ash up. to an ash about. oneinch or one and one-quarter-incheslong, and to make possible smoking to an ash about two inches longwith-, out extraordinary care. At the same time, the ash is not so muchstrengthened as to impose any'difificulty in. intentionally knocking oifthe ash. While a very soft tap on an ash tray, or a gentle shake, maybesuflicient to dislodge the ash on a cigar not in accordwith theinvention, an appreciably sharper tap, or more vigorous shake isnecessary to knock off 'an ash of the same length, in a cigar in accordwith the invention.

Tests indicate that'cigars in accord with the invention areindistinguishable asto. smoking. taste and aroma. and as to othersmoking characteristics, except that the, ash' is stronger, from cigarsinade up of'the. same materials but with the homogenized leaf binder.uncoated with silicate.

'While only certain preferred embodiments ofthis invention have beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilledin the art and it is, therefore,desired that it beunderstood; that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all suchmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof this invention.

W is i i d. s. ne a d hat s de i ed e u e.- by Letters Patent of theUnited States is;

1-. In a cigar, a in a n h. n ex e n l w a n r i reconstitutedcomminuted tobacco leaf binder interposed; er be nr a urali o as d alkli meta sili a r s s W li 21 a a of i bin er andori nted.

9 exte d e er l 1Qn di al r Qt e dea a .1 a i r. having a u ch n n. xern l. Wr pper a er he nw p i unch a n posed:

be w en id b nq an pp r, and rmed f small: wba co. part c es. oundtogether, in pa t by alkali" metal l cate mpr gn ted, he n long r s rited. areas. thereof extending generally longitudinally of the cigar.

, 3. In a cigar comprisinga bunch, and an outer wrapper, a binder.disposedwrappingly around thebunch and within. the. wrapper comprising asheet of substantially the thickness of a leaf; of tobacco consistingessentially ofcomprising between about one tenth te'one-third'of the,

. areaof said sheet.

'4'. The method of making ,a shrein forcing sheet for a cigar comprisingthe steps of forming a sheet of tobacco particles of between dust sizeand 15 mesh bound together with an organic binder material, adjustingthe moisture content of said sheet to between about 8 and 20 percentmoisture and printing a pattern of parallel stripe areas of said sheetwith water glass of between about 19 and 28 Baum, and thereafterreducing the moisture content of said stripe areas to provide a sheet ofuniform moisture content suitable for wrapping about a bunch in themaking of the cigar.

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Low Apr.25, 1933 Sartoretto et al. Oct. '14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain1901 France May 27, 1953

